Signal switch for vehicles



Sept. 11, 1928; 1,683,852

' S. P. WIEGNER El AL SIGNAL SWITCH FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 23, 1924 Jz'zzzon Iefev Wigner, Llwdeh. ndson and Henry Gordon Patented Sept. 11,1928.

' UNITED STATES PAT T r'FicE'.

snvion PETER WIEGNER, CLAUDE w. ni-ivInsoNjANn HENRY n. eonnoiv, OF Los 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL SWITCH non vnnronns.

Application filed August An object of this invention is to provide a signal for vehicles'that can be mounted on the exterior of an automobile in position to be visible to persons in traffic, with means on the interior of the vehicle and connected:

An object to provide a signal that can be actuated without a car driver releasing the steering wheel or removing a footfrom.

thebrake pedal. To that end, I provide revolvable hand switches on the steering wheel for actuating the signals indicating 7 right and left hand turns; and a switch on the brake pedal that when closed as the brake is actuatedto retard or stop the car actuates the stop signal.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal with means in connection therewith for moving and holding the signal arms in their proper position to accord with the signal positions established by custom.- That is, the stop signal armsis arranged so that-when actuated'it is moved out and pointed downwardly at an angle-of 45 degrees to a line vertical through the arm pivot. The right turn signal arm is moved out at a right angle to a linevertieal' through the pivot"; and the left turn signal arm is movedoutward and upward 135 degrees. In other words the arms are moved to positions now generally adopted in signalling; so that persons unable to distinguish the writingon the signal arms can readily tell by their positions the intentions of a car driver. 7

Another object is to provide a signal for vehicles that is pleasing in appearance, and that is simple to construct, install and operate.

Features of the invention are shown in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby an efficient signal appliance for closed cars-is provided.

Other objects, advantages and features of inyention may appeanfrom the accompanying drawing, the SUbJOlIlGCl detail description and the appended claims.

The accom 33D in drawin illustrates the invention.

Figure 1 1s a fragmentalv ew of a vehicle body with a signal appliance installedthat 23, 1924. Serial No. 733,808.

vention.

i Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental side view of the; signal appliance, showing it detached from the switches and battery, and'the signal arms in normal position. i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the steering wheel with the right turn hand switch in section.

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmental section on staggered line 00*, Fig. 3, showing sections through boththe right and left hand switches with their terminals out of contact. V

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section online m Fig.4, showing the left hand switch with its terminals in contact.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental section in line a, V

Fig. 2, showing the left handturn signal moved from normal to. actuated position to indicate a drivers intention to make a left hand'turn.

Fig. 7 is a fr'agmental sectionon line 415 Fig. 2, showing'the right handturn signal moved from normal to actuated'position to indicate a drivers intention to make a right hand turn.

Fig. 8 is-a fragmental section on line a Fig. 2, showing the stop signal moved from normal to actuated position to indicate a "drivers intention to slow down or stop the car. V V

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmenta'lsection on line 00 Fig. 8. V

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view ofthe signal showing the wiring connection to the switches andbattery.

The signal 1 comprises a casing 2 that is adapted to be attached to a car-3'in position so it is visible to persons in traflic'and also to the driver. of the car; and it can be secured in place by any well known means as p'mions. v I 1 The segments are provided with slotted 13, 14, 15 are loosely mounted and arranged with their teeth, engaging their respective justing these collars the cores can be moved the right distance by the magnets to actuate the slgnal arms to a proper position.

The swltches 29, .are preferably connected to an automobile steering wheel 32 as shown in the drawing. I

1 The wheel 32 comprises a metal spider having a hub 33 adaptedto be secured to the post 34; and integral with the hub 33. arev the. radial arms 35 that are spaced equiand arrangement distant apart and provided with web hands 36 having screw holes 37.

Wooden cylindrical segments 38 have their 7 ends mortised, fittedoto, and secured to the hands 36 by screws 39 by which construction steering wheel 32 is provided; and on two o't'the oppositely arranged segments 38 are mounted the rotary hand switches 29, 30 that are adapted to be turned on their axis to make and break tliecircuits controlling the right and left hand turning signals.

The switches 29, 30 are constructed substantially alike, except that they rotate oppositely to one another in making and break- I forwardly of the contact post 48 ing the circuits. That is the right turn switch 29 is rotated toward the right, and the left hand switch 30 is rotated toward the'left to close their circuits as indicated by arrows in Figs. 4, 10.

The switch carrying reduced in diameter to provide a seat for the cylindrical insulation hand grips 42, 43; and also to provide recesses 44 in which the respective contacts 45, 46 and47, 48 are mounted in position to be engaged by the respective rotary segments 49, 50, that are carried by the hand grips. Contacts 45, 46 and 47 48 are provided with spring blade contact members 48, which extend slightly and into the path of the rotative segments 49, 50, so that when the hand grips are turned to bring the rotative segments 49, 50 into contact with the members 48, the circuit is closed between said parts. The part 41 extends into the part 40 to support the end thereof, which is cut to provide the recess 44.

Thehand grlps 42, 43 can be slotted as at 51 inFi 3, and provided with stop pins 52 to limit the rotation of the grips so that when one end of a slot 51 engages a pin 52 the switches will be open and when engaging 2 and these arises the contact 47. wire 56 of parts a hexagon rim segments arepreferably formed of twoparts 40, 41that are the other end of the slot they will be closed. Openings are provided in the parts 41 through which the respective lead wires 54, and 56, 57 are extended from their respective contacts, see Figs. 3, 4.

The complete circuit of the switch 29 comprises the contact 45, wire 54, relay magnet 26, battery wire 58, battery 28, lead wire 59 and contact 46; and the circuit is opened and closed by movement of the segment 49 on the hand grip'42, and when the switch is closed the right turn signal will be actuated in the direction of the full line arrows in. Fig. 7 and when the switch 29 is open the arm 10 will. fall by gravity in the direction of the dotted arrows to a position invisible in the casing 2.

T he completecircuit of the switch 30 comrelay magnet 25, battery wire 58, battery 28, return wire 59-and contact 48; and the circuit is opened and closed by movement of the segment 50 on the hand grip 43, and when the switch is closed the left hand turn signalwill beactuat-ed in the direction'ot the full line arrow shown in Fig. 6; and when the switch 30 is open signal will tall by gravity in the di rection of the dotted arrow. 7

The switch 31 is provided with the contacts 60, '61 that are opened and closed by the toot pedal 62 diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 10. The pedal is pushed against the tension of the spring 63 to engage the contacts and the spring automatically discngages them.

The complete circuit of the switch 31 comprises the contact 60, wire 64, relay magnet 27, battery wire 58, battery 28, return wire 59 and contact 61, and when this switch is closed the stop signal will be actuated in the direction ot the full line arrow; and when the switch is open the signal will fall by gravityas indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 8. V

in operationthe car driver when intending to make a right hand turn rotates the hand grip 42 on its axis toward the right as indicated by the right hand arrow in Fig. 4 to close the switch 29, so that the relay magnet 26 will actuate the right hand turn signal; and also simultaneously with the ac tuation of the right turn signal the pedal an be moved to close its switch 31 and actuate the stop signal; and the signals arearranged so that when actuated both are visible to persons in the trafiic.

The left turn signal is actuatedby rotating the hanc grip 43 toward the left as indicatedby the left hand arrow in Fig. 4; and also it and the stop signal can be bperated in unison and both are visible when in actuated position.

Vve claim: p

1. A vehicle steering wheel having a rim comprising a pluralityoitsegments, one of said segments formed in two parts, one restricted segmental part being received Within a bore in the other of said parts and forming therewith a cavity; a cylindrical insulated hand grip mounted on said rim seg ments; a contact element on said'restricted segment part; a contact ring on said hand grip adapted to engage the first mentioned contact upon rotation of said hand grip and means carried by the bored segmental part and adapted for engagement with the hand grip to limit the rotation of the said grip.

2. A vehicle steering Wheel having l'lllll comprising a. plurality of segments, each centric contact element on said grip meming its free end projecting through said slot segment being formed in two parts, one of said parts provided with a bore, the other of said parts having areduced portion adapted to be received within said bore; a cylindrical insulated grip member mounted on said rim segmental parts and forming a recess between said reduced portion and said grip member; a spring contact element connected to said reduced port1on,a conber, adapted to engage said spring contact element when said grip is rotated, said grip member formed with a slot and a stop pin carried by the bored segmental part and hav and adapted to limit the rotation of said hand grip.

In testimon V whereof we have hereunto 1 7 i set our hands.

Said VVIEGNER at Los Angeles, California, this 22nd day of May, 1924:.

SIMON PETER lVIEGNER. 1

SHld'GORDON at Mullen, Nebn, 9 June,

. HENRY R. GQRDON. Said Dnvmson at St. John, Utah this 23rd day of June, 1924. is

CLAUDE W. DAViDSON. 

